Variegated label sheet

ABSTRACT

A label sheet includes a label removably laminated to a release liner by a pair of release bonds having different bond strengths and being repetitive in a variegated pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to laminated label sheets, and,more specifically, to label integrity thereof.

Label sheets are commonly available in various configurations with andwithout printing thereon. A typical label sheet is a laminate of a paperoverlay and an underlying release liner. An adhesive bonds the overlayto the liner in the finished article.

In typical use, information is printed atop the overlay, and the overlayis then removed from the liner by being peeled therefrom. The peeledaway label has exposed adhesive so that it may be pressed against paperor other object for attachment thereto. A typical release liner iscoated over one side with liquid silicone which is thermally cured forproviding a low adhesion surface thereatop to which the overlay istemporarily bonded. The adhesive provides a weak bond between theoverlay and the silicone liner which sufficiently maintains together thelaminate until it is desired to remove the overlay from the liner.

More complex label sheets include several labels or decals in theoverlay defined by respective perimeter diecuts therebetween which allowremoval of individual labels from the liner. The individual labels maybe directly adjacent to each other or there may be an intervening labelrim or border which remains attached to the liner after the individuallabels are peeled away.

A further increase in complexity of the label sheet includes an integralpaper form attached to the label portion of the overlay which does notoverlie the liner. This type of label sheet may be manufactured using alap joining method wherein the label and liner laminate ispremanufactured and lap joined along an edge thereof to the paper form.In another, integrated, method of manufacture, the entire overlay,including the label and form portions thereof, is separatelymanufactured in a common sheet and the liner is then bonded below thelabel portion thereof.

These various label sheets nevertheless use a commonly fabricatedrelease liner which is typically manufactured in large rolls with thesilicone in liquid form being applied over the entire surface of theliner material which is then thermally cured. The large roll of releaseliner is then cut into individual smaller rolls for use in various labelsheet applications as required.

The release coating may be specifically formulated to effect low to highrelease bonds with the overlay. In use, it is desired to have lowrelease bonds so that the individual labels may be easily removed. Thisis typically accomplished by bending the label sheet near one of thediecuts to locally break the bond thereat to expose a portion of thelabel which is then peeled away.

However, if the release bond is too weak, individual labels may separatefrom the liner during their travel through a laser printer for example.A laser printer may include narrow rollers for guiding the label sheettherethrough, and also includes a fusion roller for heat curing theprinting toner on the labels. The heat softens the adhesive, and thenarrow rollers bend the sheet tightly which can separate the labels fromthe liner if insufficient release bonds are used. If a labelpredispenses in the printer, it not only destroys the usefulness of thelabel, but can damage the printer by bonding to internal componentsthereof.

Accordingly, the release bond is typically tailored for a specific typeof label sheet and intended printer, and should be suitably strong ortight to prevent predispensing in the printer. This correspondingly highrelease bond increases the difficulty of manually removing individuallabels when desired in use. This can be a significant problem wherelabels are used in large volume, such as in the pharmacy industry.

Pharmacists typically use the combined label sheet and form forrecording various information in a typical pharmaceutical drugtransaction which requires one or more individual labels to be removedfrom the sheet and attached to a prescription drug container. The use ofhigh release bonds in a label sheet to prevent predispensing in a laserprinter correspondingly increases the difficulty of removing individuallabels from the sheet, and therefore increases the amount of work andtime required in completing individual drug transactions.

Accordingly, it is desired to provide an improved label sheet whichincreases the ease of removing individual labels during use, yetprevents predispensing thereof in a laser printer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A label sheet includes a label removably laminated to a release liner bya pair of release bonds having different bond strengths and beingrepetitive in a variegated pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, in accordance with preferred and exemplary embodiments,together with further objects and advantages thereof, is moreparticularly described in the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the front side of a label sheet inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the back side of the label sheetillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partly sectional view of a portion of the labelsheet illustrated in FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary striatedembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational, sectional view through the label sheetillustrated in FIG. 3 and taken along line 4—4.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the liner illustrated in FIG. 3 havingvariegated release thereon in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a partly sectional, isometric view of the label sheetillustrated in FIG. 3 having release on the liner in accordance with acheckerboard embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partly sectional, isometric view of the label sheetillustrated in FIG. 3 having release on the liner in accordance withtriangular embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of an exemplary method of printingvariegated release patterns on a liner laminated with a label sheetoverlay.

FIG. 9 is a partly sectional, isometric view, like FIG. 3, illustratingvariegated label adhesive in accordance with additional embodiments ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a label sheet or laminate 10 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Thesheet 10 includes a face sheet or overlay 12 which is preferably asingle rectangular paper sheet although it may have other compositionand configuration as desired. The overlay includes a front or outer sidewhich may be printed upon or preprinted, and an opposite inner or backside. The overlay also includes one or more individual removable labels14, and may optionally include a form portion 16 which may be printedfront and back.

The label portion of the overlay is laminated to an underlying releaseliner 18 which includes an inner or front side that faces the overlayback, and an opposite outer or back side. An adhesive 20 is bonded tothe label portion of the overlay and removably bonds together theindividual labels 14 and the liner 18 in a laminated construction forallowing individual labels 14 to be removed from the liner and thenreaffixed to a paper sheet, container, or other article as desired ineither permanent or temporary bonds.

The individual labels are rendered removable without damage thereto byapplying an integral release 22 in a coating over the front side of theliner 18 for selectively controlling the bonding thereto by the adhesive20. Release coatings are conventional and include for example a liquidsilicone which is applied wet to the liner and then cured usingultraviolet light or heat for example.

As indicated above, a conventional release liner includes a singlerelease coating having the same release characteristics over its entiresurface area since the liners are typically manufactured in large rollsand cut to size for specific applications. Similarly, a conventionaladhesive has a single adhesive strength and coats the entire label back.The combination of the specific release and the specific adhesivecontrols the resulting release bond between the label and liner, and itsstrength.

In accordance with the present invention, the labels 14 are removablylaminated to the release liner 18 by a pair of release bonds havingdifferent strengths and being repetitive in a variegated pattern tocustomize or tailor the effective or nominal release bond therebetween.For example, a low release bond having a relatively low release forcemay be configured along the trailing edge of the labels to allow theportion of the label thereabove to be easily peeled away from theunderlying liner. The remainder of the label may have a high releasebond requiring a relatively high release force for allowing the portionof the liner thereabove to be peeled away with a substantially greaterremoval force than that needed for the low release bond. In this way,the individual labels 14 have varying release bonds for maintaining theintegrity of the label sheet 10 during printing thereon, yet alsoallowing the easy removal of individual labels.

More specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary laser printer 24which conventionally includes a hot fusion roller therein and narrowguide rollers along which individual label sheets 10 are guided forprinting thereon. The label sheet 10 may have any suitable configurationspecifically configured for travel through the exemplary laser printer,or other forms of printers as desired.

In all cases, the label sheet 10 is fed into the printer with itsleading edge first entering the printer, and its trailing edge lastentering the printer. In FIG. 1, the sheet leading edge is at the top ofthe sheet with the trailing edge being at the bottom of the sheet. Theleading and trailing edges are, of course, dependent upon the specificconfiguration of the label sheet and the intended feed direction in thecorresponding printer. Various label sheets may be either fed top first,bottom first, or sideways as desired, with the first edge entering theprinter being the leading edge by definition.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality ofthe labels 14 are disposed in a common overlay 12 and bonded atop theliner 18. Each label 14 includes a corresponding perimeter 26 which ispreferably defined by a continuous die cut through the overlay down tothe liner. The diecuts define the perimeter edges of the individuallabels, and allow the individual labels to be removed from the remainingportion of the overlay and from the supporting liner 18. Although threeexemplary rectangular labels A,B,C are illustrated, the invention may beapplied to a single label or any number of labels in any configurationas desired for removing individual labels.

Like the label sheet 10 itself, the individual labels 14 also include aleading edge which first enters the printer 24 illustrated in FIG. 1followed in turn by corresponding trailing edges of the labels, againdefined by the relative travel of the individual labels into the printer24. The relative travel of the labels is an exemplary design constraintbecause of the desire to prevent predispensing of the individual labelsinside the printer 24 due to the heat and tight bends therein, whilealso allowing the subsequent easy removal of individual labels manuallywhen desired.

Since the bending of the label sheet in its travel through the printer24 will tend to first lift and separate the leading edges of the variouslabels from the underlying liner, the high release bond preferablyextends along the leading edge of the individual labels to preventpredispensing thereof.

Correspondingly, the low release bond extends along a different portionof the die cut perimeter including, for example, the label trailingedge. In this way, the label leading edge may be bonded to the linerwith a high release force bond selected to prevent predispensing of thelabel during its travel through the laser printer. And, the trailingedge of the individual labels may be bonded to the liner with a lowrelease force bond for allowing the label to be easily peeled away fromthe liner manually when desired.

Once a portion of the label is peeled away from the liner, the remainingportion of the label will readily follow notwithstanding the higherrelease force securing it thereto. In this way, the label sheet 10 mayenjoy the benefits of both the high release bond along the leading edgesof the labels for preventing predispensing in the printer, whilenevertheless being easily removed from the liner when desired byinitiating peeling at any portion of the low release force bond.

Since the low and high release bonds are created or effected by thecombination of the adhesive 20 joined to the back of the labels 14, andthe release 22 joined to the front of the liner 18, the differentrelease forces for the two bonds may be effected by varying eitheradhesion strength of the adhesive 20, or by varying release value orstrength of the release coating 22.

As indicated above, release bond strength between the label and linermay be tailored by interposing small or micro patches of relatively lowand high strength release bonds in a repetitive or variegated pattern sothat the effective bond strength is a combination of the low and highstrength bonds. In this way, the effective release bond may have astrength of any value between the low and high bond strengths dependingupon the relative size or area of the different bond patches.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention wherein the release bonds are effected using a single adhesive20 disposed in a full coating on the back side of the label 14, with asingle adhesive strength. The variegated release bond pattern is in theform of striated strips or patches of first and second releases 22 a and22 b. The two releases 22 a, 22 b are coated atop the liner and havedifferent release values or strengths to effect with the common adhesive20 correspondingly different release bond strengths. For example, thefirst release 22 a may be a conventional silicone having low releasevalue for a weak bond with the adhesive. The second release 22 b may aconventional silicone formulated for a high release. value and a strongor tight bond with the cooperating adhesive.

By alternately repeating the first and second releases 22 a,b ininterjacent small or micro patches, a variegated pattern thereof will becreated having an effective release bond strength controlled by therelative size or area of the different release patches.

By using a single strength adhesive 20 in the exemplary embodiment, theeffective release bond between the label and liner may be customized bycontrolling the variegated pattern of the two different releases 22 a,bin various configurations.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the interjacent release bond patches formedby the alternating releases 22 a,b individually have different bondstrengths and may be correspondingly sized to collectively effect anominal or effective release bond of intermediate bond strength betweenthe low and high values corresponding with the two releases. Therelative size or surface area of the two releases and density may bevaried as desired to collectively control the resulting bond strength.

In one example (not shown), the variegated pattern of the two releasesmay be uniform across the entire label to provide an effective releasebond between the label and liner having a bond strength beingintermediate the individual bond strengths attributable to the twodifferent releases.

The size or area ratio of the two releases may be varied as desired tocontrol the collective release bond. The use of a greater area ratio forthe first release will create a correspondingly low or weak releasebond, whereas a greater area ratio for the second release will effect astronger or tight release bond. The effective release bond may thereforebe tailored in strength to any value between the low and high strengthbonds effected by the two releases.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the exemplary label 14 is rectangular andincludes a corresponding perimeter 26 having a leading edge along oneside, and a trailing edge along an opposite side. The two releases 22a,b may be specifically tailored in a corresponding striated pattern toposition a low release bond corresponding with the first release 22 aalong the trailing edge of the perimeter, and a high release bondcorresponding with the second release 22 b along, the leading edge. Inthis way, premature predispensing of the label 14 along its leading edgeis prevented, with the trailing edge of the label being easily peeledaway from the liner.

In a preferred embodiment, the interjacent release bond patchescorresponding to the different releases 22 a,b are differently sizedfrom each other to effect a gradient release bond along the label in itsfeed direction between the opposite leading and trailing edges. Thestrip patches of the first and second releases 22 a,b have correspondingwidths A,B which correspondingly vary between the leading and trailingedges of the label. The striated release patches are uniform in widthalong their lengths and between their ends to effect uniform releasebonds therebetween in the exemplary embodiment.

The relative area of the striated patches may be controlled by theirsize or width ratio A/B or B/A from pair-to-pair of a adjacentstriations to control the effective release bond. By varying the sizeratio of the striations along the label 14 between the leading andtrailing edges thereof, an effective gradient release bond may becreated. In this way, the release bond between the label and liner maysteadily decrease from tight to easy from leading to trailing edge, orvice versa. The label leading edge remains tightly bonded to the liner,while the trailing edge may be readily peeled away from the liner whichprovides additional leverage for peeling the remainder of the labelwithout excessive restraint by the bond increasing in strength to theleading edge.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, theinterjacent striated patches of the first and second releases 22 a,binversely change size or width along the label 14 between the oppositeleading and trailing edges to effect the gradient in effective releasebonds between the label and liner. The two different releases 22 a,b aredithered or patterned such that the leading edge side of the label issupported atop predominantly tight release silicone, whereas thetrailing edge side of the label is supported atop predominantly easyrelease silicone. The size ratio of the easy to tight silicone releasecorrespondingly changes in a suitable gradient below the leading andtrailing edges of the label.

This is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 by the width A of the first release22 a having a maximum value below the label trailing edge and a minimumvalue below the label leading edge, and decreasing in turn therebetween.Correspondingly, the width B of the second release 22 b has a maximumvalue below the label leading edge and a minimum value below the labeltrailing edge, and decreasing in turn therebetween.

The alternating release striations 22 a,b are thusly arranged in pairs,with the widths A,B thereof inversely varying in size between theopposite leading and trailing edges of the label. The individual widthsA,B may be selected based on the specific strength of the adhesive 20and specific values of the two releases 22 a,b. The corresponding numberof release striations per centimeter may vary as desired in theexemplary range of about ten or more.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the effectiverelease bond between the label and liner may vary substantially smoothlyand continuously between the opposite leading and trailing edges. Othergradients or distributions of the effective release bond may be obtainedas desired.

For example, FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of thevariegated striated releases atop the liner 18 and below one of thelabels 14 illustrated in phantom. The gradient release provided belowthe individual labels 14 may have discrete intermediate values rangingfrom low release (1), to medium releases (2,3), to tight release (4).The liner border surrounding each of the labels preferably has a tightrelease for strongly securing the label border to the liner. Theindividual labels are bonded to the liner with a tight release alongtheir leading edges, with decreasing release values to the trailing edgeof the label for permitting easy peeling thereat.

The tight release may be provided by using solely the second release 22b in a continuous coating atop the liner to border the individual labelsand extend a short distance under the leading edges thereof. The lowrelease 22 a may be provided in a continuous coating below the trailingedge portion of the label.

And, two medium release bonds may be effected in the middle of the labelby providing two different striated release patterns of the two releases22 a,b. For example, the second medium-release bond may be effected byusing the first release 22 a being wider than the second release 22 b inthe interjacent striations thereof. Correspondingly, the thirdmedium-release bond may be effected using the first release 22 anarrower in width than the second release 22 b in interjacent striationsthereof.

The variegated pattern of the release bond between the label and linermay be effected using any desired pattern of the two different releases22 a,b. In FIGS. 3-5, the release patches are striated in strips. InFIG. 6, the variegated release bond pattern is in the exemplary form ofcheckerboard patches or micro patches. The first and second releases 22a,b may therefore repetitively alternate in two orthogonal directions.

The exemplary checkerboard pattern illustrated in FIG. 6 includesgreater surface area of the second release 22 b on the liner below theleading edge of the label, with greater surface area of the firstrelease 22 a below the trailing edge of the liner. The exemplarycheckerboard pattern is uniform along the length of the individuallabels, but may also vary as desired to further tailor the effectiverelease bond between the label and liner as desired.

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another configuration of the release bond patternincluding laterally alternating triangular patches of the first andsecond releases 22 a,b. In this embodiment, the triangular releasepatches 22 a,b extend between the opposite edges of the label, near theleading edge of the face sheet 12 and away therefrom toward the trailingedge.

The patches are narrower in width than in length, and form narrowtriangles alternating laterally across the width thereof. And, thetriangular patches 22 a,b have alternating bases and apexes along thelabel opposite edges. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the basesof the tight second release patches 22 b adjoin each other along acommon tight release band below the label leading edge to ensure a tightrelease bond therewith.

The bases of the low first release patches 22 a adjoin each other alonga common low release band below the trailing edge of the label 14 topermit easy label peeling thereat.

The apexes of the second release patches 22 b separate the bases of thefirst release patches 22 a, and similarly, the apexes of the firstrelease patches 22 a separate the bases of the second release patches 22b.

In this way, the low release bond below the label trailing edgesgradually increases in bond strength to the tight release bond below thelabel leading edge as the collective area of the low release decreasesalong the height of the triangles and the collective areas of the tightrelease increases. The area ratio between the low and high releaseschanges gradually, and permits smooth peeling away of the label from theliner with increasing bond strength, and without abrupt changes inperceived bond strength.

The triangular release patches 22 a,b are preferably slender and narrowto provide a smooth release bond gradient along the length or heightthereof. Alternatively, short, but wide triangular release patches couldalso be used, where deemed advantageous.

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically an exemplary method of forming avariegated label sheet 10. The liner 18 is initially provided in a rollof liner material upon which the first and second releases 22 a,b may bepatterned as desired. This may be effected by using two printing towers28 a,b which may have any conventional configuration, originally forprinting ink, but instead used for printing liquid silicone releases.

In this way, a first pattern corresponding with the first release 22 amay be printed atop the liner material in any desired configuration. Theliquid silicone may then be conventionally cured using ultraviolet (UV)light.

A second pattern corresponding with the second release 22 b may then beprinted atop the liner material in interposition with the first patternto collectively effect the desired variegated release pattern withinterjacent patches or micro patches of the two different releases 22a,b. The second release 22 b is similarly cured using UV light.

The various striated patterns illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 may be thuslyprinted atop the liner, as well as the exemplary checkerboard patternillustrated in FIG. 6, as well as the exemplary triangular patternillustrated in FIG. 7, as well as any desired pattern from relativelysimple to relatively complex.

In the preferred embodiment, the two patterns of different releases 22a,b collectively cover the entire surface of the liner material withoutdiscontinuity therebetween to provide a continuous release coating forthe adhesive 20 laminated between the liner and face sheet 12 to formthe resulting laminated label sheet 10. In order to ensure a continuouscoating of the release atop the liner 18, the second release pattern ispreferably provided with a small overlap with the interjacent patches ofthe first pattern to accommodate printing tolerances of the twopatterns.

The liner is then laminated with the label face sheet 12 using theadhesive. The laminated label sheet may then be configured in roll formof multiple sheets, or may be cut into individual sheets as desired.

By controlling the first and second patterns of the two releases 22 a,b,a corresponding release bond effected with the adhesive 20 may betailored or customized as desired. The size ratio of the first andsecond release patterns may be varied to collectively effect aneffective release bond between the label and liner having intermediatebond strength between the different bond strengths attributable to eachof the individual releases. The effective release bond may be uniformacross the individual labels, or may vary as desired to effect thegradient release bond between the leading and trailing edges of thelabel using interjacent patches inversely changing in size or areatherebetween.

As indicated above, the release bond between the label and liner iscontrolled by both the adhesive below the label and the release coatingatop the liner. In the exemplary embodiments disclosed above, theadhesive 20 is uniform with a single adhesive strength, with twodifferent releases 22 a,b being used to tailor the resulting effectiverelease bond.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention wherein asingle release 22 is used atop the liner 18 and has a single releasevalue or strength. The variegated pattern of release bonds isalternatively effected by using a pair of first and second adhesives 20a,b disposed on the back of the label 14 in contact with the commonrelease 22. The first and second adhesives 20 a,b have differentadhesive strengths or values to effect the different release bondstrengths with the common release. The variegated adhesive 20 a,b may beconfigured in the same patterns, such as the striated or checkerboard ortriangular patches, as the two releases disclosed above for enjoying thesame benefits.

FIG. 9 illustrates two exemplary embodiments of the variegated adhesivepatterns. The striated pattern is sized in surface area to positionpredominantly low strength adhesive 20 a along the label trailing edge,and predominantly high strength adhesive 20 b along the label leadingedge. The size ratio of the first and second adhesives 20 a,b may varyas desired between the opposite leading and trailing edges of the labelto effect the various gradient releases described above.

Similarly, the first and second adhesives 20 a,b may be disposed in thecheckerboard pattern illustrated, again for providing predominantly lowstrength adhesive near the label trailing edge and high strengthadhesive near the label leading edge.

In the various embodiments disclosed above, only two different releasebonds with different bond strengths may be used in the repetitivevariegated pattern to control the effective release bond between thelabel and liner. The relative surface area and density of the patchesmay be controlled for customizing the bond strength between the labeland liner for any suitable purpose, such as having a tight-bond leadingedge and an easy-bond trailing edge.

The variegated release bond pattern may be effected using either twodifferent releases 22 a,b or two different adhesives 20 a,b, or both ifdesired. It is also possible to use more than two different releases oradhesives to further tailor the bond strength between the label andliner if desired.

In all of these embodiments, the specific size of the individual patchesof release or adhesive is selected so that the effective release bond isa combination of the individual release bonds effected by the differentpatches. The smaller the individual patches, the more uniform theeffective release bond. The small patches permit their individual bondstrengths to be locally averaged between the label and liner. Largepatches are therefore not desired since averaging of their bondstrengths is prevented in view of the discrete patch bonds between thelabel and liner.

Accordingly, the use of two different release coatings or adhesives insmall patches permits custom release bond profiles to be effected forindividual labels. The same manufacturing equipment may therefore beused for tailoring different label designs by simply changing thedesired printing patterns of the release, for example, while using onlytwo different release compositions. This adds considerable versatilityto the manufacturing process since custom release may be effected usingmultiple releases in different combinations.

Although individual releases or adhesives may themselves be tailored incomposition for obtaining different release bonds, such singlecomposition release bonds require correspondingly configured equipmenttherefor. And, single composition release bonds cannot enjoy thebenefits of varying release bonds across a label in infiniteconfigurations thereof made possible by the present invention.

While there have been described herein what are considered to bepreferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention, othermodifications of the invention shall be apparent to those skilled in theart from the teachings herein, and it is, therefore, desired to besecured in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

Accordingly, what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of theUnited States is the invention as defined and differentiated in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A label sheet comprising an adhesive coated labelremovably laminated to a release coated liner along a continuous planeof lamination effected by a pair of interjacent release bonds betweensaid adhesive and release having different bond strengths and beingrepetitive in a variegated pattern.
 2. A label sheet according to claim1 wherein said bonds comprise first and second release bonds alternatelyrepeating in interjacent patches to define said pattern.
 3. A labelsheet according to claim 2 wherein said interjacent release bond patchesof different bond strength are correspondingly sized to collectivelyeffect an effective release bond of intermediate bond strength.
 4. Alabel sheet according to claim 3 wherein said interjacent release bondpatches are differently sized to effect a gradient release bond alongsaid label.
 5. A label sheet according to claim 3 wherein saidinterjacent release bond patches have a size ratio varying along saidlabel to effect a gradient release bond therealong.
 6. A label sheetaccording to claim 3 wherein said variegated release bond patterncomprises-striated patches.
 7. A label sheet according to claim 3wherein said variegated release bond pattern comprises checkerboardpatches.
 8. A label sheet according to claim 3 wherein said variegatedrelease bond pattern comprises triangular patches.
 9. A label sheetaccording to claim 3 wherein said release bond pair comprise: a fullcoating adhesive disposed on said label; and a corresponding pair ofinterposed releases adjoining each other to collectively coat said linerin contact with said adhesive, with said release pair having differentrelease values to effect said different release bond strengths.
 10. Alabel sheet according to claim 9 wherein said adhesive has a singlestrength.
 11. A label sheet according to claim 3 wherein said releasebond pair comprise: a single release disposed on said liner; and acorresponding pair of interposed adhesives adjoining each other tocollective coat said label in contact with said release, with saidadhesive pair having different adhesive strengths to effect saiddifferent release bond strengths.
 12. A label sheet according to claim11 wherein said release has a single release value.
 13. A label sheetaccording to claim 3 wherein said label includes a perimeter, and saidrelease bond pattern positions a low release bond along one edge of saidperimeter, and a high release bond along an opposite edge.
 14. A labelsheet according to claim 13 wherein said interjacent release bondpatches are differently sized to effect a gradient release bond alongsaid label between said opposite edges.
 15. A label sheet according toclaim 13 wherein said release bond pair comprise: a full coatingadhesive disposed on said label; and a corresponding pair of interposedreleases adjoining each other to collectively coat said liner in contactwith said adhesive, with said release pair having different releasevalues to effect said different release bond strengths.
 16. A labelsheet according to claim 15 wherein said adhesive has a single strength.17. A label sheet according to claim 15 wherein said variegated releasebond pattern comprises striated patches.
 18. A label sheet according toclaim 15 wherein said variegated release bond pattern comprisescheckerboard patches.
 19. A label sheet according to claim 15 whereinsaid variegated release bond pattern comprises triangular patches.
 20. Alabel sheet according to claim 19 wherein said triangular releasepatches extend between said label opposite edges, and are narrower inwidth than in length.
 21. A label sheet according to claim 20 whereinsaid triangular release patches have alternating bases and apexes alongsaid label opposite edges.
 22. A method of forming a label sheetaccording to claim 1 comprising: printing a first release in a firstpattern atop said liner; printing a second release in a second patternatop said liner, with said first and second patterns being interjacent;and laminating said liner to said label with said adhesive therebetweento effect said different strength release bonds at said first and secondrelease patterns.
 23. A method of forming a label sheet comprising:printing a first release in a first pattern atop a liner; printing asecond release in a second pattern atop said liner, with said first andsecond patterns being interjacent; laminating said liner to a label withan adhesive therebetween to effect different strength release bonds atsaid first and second release patterns; and varying size ratio of saidfirst and second release patterns to collectively effect an effectiverelease bond with a strength intermediate said different strengthrelease bonds.
 24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said patternscomprise interjacent patches inversely changing size along said label toeffect a gradient in said effective release bond.